By Sara Beth Williams–
On Thursday, the Citrus Heights City Council was split on whether to approve requests for funding from two neighborhood associations for attendance at a national neighborhood-focused conference in Texas.
The city reviewed two applications for the Neighborhood Improvement Partnership (NIP) Fund from CHANT (Area 3) and John Kane (Area 4) to attend the Neighborhood USA (NUSA) conference in Lubbock, TX, from May 22 to 24. The two neighborhood association applicants requested a total of $3,600 to pay for all conference expenses, including registration fees, airfare, lodging, food, and transportation.
A third applicant, Sunrise Ranch Area 6, requested funds that would be used to replace worn and discolored sign toppers in their neighborhood.
During the April 25 council meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve funding for Area 4 to attend the conference, and for Area 6 to receive funding for fixing aged sign toppers. The council also voted in favor of sending an Area 3 representative to attend the national conference, but voted 4-1, with Vice Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa stating that the representative had already gone the year before.
Previously, the City Council approved a request by the resident to attend the 2023 NUSA conference. In her 2024 application, she expressed her desire to return to the conference in hopes of engaging with other neighborhood leaders, as well as gaining more knowledge of “techniques and project ideas” which could improve “quality of life” and “civic engagement” for Citrus Heights residents.
Karpinski-Costa also questioned whether any conference sessions would aid in getting a neighborhood association off the ground, as the Area 4 neighborhood association has only recently been revitalized and doesn’t have an official board established. However, she said she was “swayed to” allow funding for Area 4.
“The goal to go is to simply be more effective in my community,” Kane said in response to Karpinski-Costa.
Karpinski-Costa also stated that she was worried about the funds being depleted for the 2023/24 fiscal year, and that neighborhood Area 10 was hoping to utilize the funds for other projects that are pending but haven’t been submitted to the city for approval.
Councilmember Tim Schaefer reminded the council that funds for the Neighborhood Improvement Partnership renew July 1. Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber also added that there are additional city funds available outside of the remaining $2,000 in Neighborhood Improvement Partnership funding for extra neighborhood projects that are pending.
Schaefer, who said he attended a past national conference in Eugene, Oregon, said the conference was an “eye opening experience.”
Councilmember Porsche Middleton called attending the conference “great,” and affirmed the reasoning behind wanting to attend a neighborhood association conference.
Neighborhood Improvement Partnership (NIP) funds are designed with the goal of fostering community engagement and strengthening connections within individual neighborhoods, according to the city. Funds are allowed to be used for projects and events that “promote a sense of belonging” and facilitate community connectivity within neighborhoods.
The City Council has allotted a total of $25,000 in Neighborhood Improvement Partnership funding for the 2023/24 fiscal year. Approval of the submitted application requests totaling $6,508 leaves $2,391 through the end of the fiscal year, according to the city.
